KYLE BENNETT, Ed.D., BCBA

DIRECTOR

Dr. Kyle Bennett is the Director of the Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities. He has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities for 15 years. Kyle is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Florida Certified Teacher in Exceptional Student Education. He specializes in the assessment and treatment of problem behaviors, and secondary and transition programming for adolescents and young adults with autism.

JENNIFER AGGANIS, M.S., BCBA

SITE COORDINATOR, TREASURE COAST

Jennifer has worked with children diagnosed with varying disabilities since she was fourteen. In her first year of college, she worked with a little boy diagnosed with autism and her passion for the field began.

Jennifer received her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Language Pathology with a minor in American Sign Language from the University of South Florida in 2000. She returned to Boca Raton where she began working privately as a behavioral therapist doing one-on-one intensive behavior intervention. She received her Master’s Degree in Behavioral Education from Simmons College in Massachusetts.

Jennifer is currently working towards her doctoral degree in Exceptional Student Education at FAU and specializing in autism.

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BAIRBRE FLOOD, M.S.Ed.

CLINICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Bairbre came to the US 14 years ago. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Speech/Language Pathology  from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and worked in the public school system in Pennsylvania. She also gained experience as a teacher for students with autism in Boston at the New England Center for Children while completing her M.S.Ed. in Intensive Special Needs at Simmons College.

Bairbre has worked in the Florida public school system as an ESE cluster teacher and then as the Autism Coach for an elementary school. She is a Doctoral candidate in the area of Exceptional Student Education with a specialization in early intervention and autism at Florida Atlantic University.

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DEBBIE CHANAN, MSW

AUTISM RESOURCES COORDINATOR

Debbie Chanan is the Autism Resources Coordinator for the Florida Atlantic University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Debbie graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. Degree in Child Development. She received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Illinois in Chicago. She worked as a School Social Worker in Chicago serving special education students in grades K-12.

Additionally, Debbie has worked as a Social Worker in Chicago at a private clinic serving children with special needs. She is pursuing her certification in Relationship Development Intervention and is excited to be part of the FAU CARD team!

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CATHY ALLORE

CLINICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Cathy graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BAE degree in Exceptional Student Education. She is certified to teach Special Education for children in grades K-12 and General Education grades 1-6.

Cathy has worked in both Martin and St. Lucie County Public Schools in a Varying Exceptionalities classroom setting. She previously ran a summer camp program in Martin County for children with developmental disabilities. She is also trained in the use and implementation of PECS with individuals with Autism.

Cathy brings a vast amount of personal knowledge to CARD because she has a teenage son with Autism. Cathy is currently working toward her Master's Degree in Exceptional Student Education at Florida Atlantic University.
 

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LINDA PEIRCE, MEd, BCBA

CLINICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Linda earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. She received her Master of Education degree in Education Psychology from Florida Atlantic University. Linda is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and has received her K-12 ESE certification eligibility. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Exceptional Student Education at Florida Atlantic University.

Linda's experience includes working in the areas of education, counseling, and behavior analysis. She has taught children on the autism spectrum during extended school year summer programs. Linda has consulted with families and school both as a behavior analyst and counselor for local agencies. As a Behavior Specialist in Martin County School District, Linda has worked in a variety of capacities supporting students diagnosed on the autism spectrum in various settings. She is a member of the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (FABA) and ABA International.

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ALI CUNNINGHAM

CLINICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Ali earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida State University. Upon graduating with her Bacholor's she spent time in Tallahassee working for the Governor's Mentoring initiative, working with agencies and schools to match children with adult reading mentors. Working at the state level to enhance the literacy levels in Florida's school was fulfilling both personally and professionally.

After leaving Tallahassee, Ali spent a year in Spain, teaching English to students of all ages. She then returned to Florida to seek a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling, which she will complete in May 2008. Recently she has provided extensive resource and counseling services through her work in a local non-profit agency and dual diagnosis treatment center. She is bilingual in Spanish and excited to help with the multicultural inclusion for families and individuals on the autism spectrum.

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JACK SCOTT, PH.D., BCBA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jack Scott is the Executive Director of the FAU CARD center. He is an associate professor in the Department of Exceptional Student Education. He teaches courses on inclusion, special education and behavior analysis. Dr. Scott received his doctoral degree from the University of Florida.  He has also written a textbook on autism, "Students with autism: Characteristics and instructional programming", (2000), and has written several chapters and articles on autism and individual instruction.

Dr. Scott has research interests in early intensive behavioral intervention, particularly parent-directed home programs and reading instruction for children with autism. He is a behavior analyst and serves as the autism area program coordinator for the Association for Behavior Analysis. In addition, he serves on the boards of several charter schools and as a board member for Reaching Potentials. He has provided special assistance to the Ministry of Education in Belize to help their teachers become more effective in educating children with autism in this Central American country.